Daily Devotional:

Scripture: “May my prayer be set before you like incense. May the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” — Psalm 141:2-3

Have you ever walked into a room and instantly noticed a scent—whether sweet or unpleasant? Fragrance lingers. It fills the space long after the source is gone. That’s the image David paints for us in Psalm 141:2. Our prayers rise like incense before God. They fill the heavens with a pleasing aroma. Our genuine, heartfelt prayers, please our Heavenly Father.

Incense was a crucial part of worship in the Old Testament. The priest would burn it in the tabernacle, symbolizing the prayers of God’s people (Exodus 30:7-8). In Revelation 5:8, the prayers of the saints are described as golden bowls full of incense before God’s throne. Willy-nilly shallow prayers that are not sincere do absolutely nothing, they are useless. But, if we are truly seeking the Lord, our prayers are not just words spoken into the air. They are an offering, a fragrance that reaches the very presence of God.

But then David takes an interesting turn. He talks about prayer. Then, he asks God to set a guard over his mouth. He also asks God to watch over the door of his lips (Psalm 141:3). Why? Because our words matter. Just as incense can release a beautiful aroma, our words can do the same—or they can release something toxic. Words do matter. Words have impact and power. Our awesome God “spoke” the world into existence – he then created us in his image. Though we don’t have the power God has, we are made in his image. So, it makes sense that our words would carry some weight. We learn from Proverbs 18:21 that the tongue can bring death or life. Those who love to talk will reap the consequences. Good or bad, our words have some level of power. Now, I won’t get into the whole falsehood of the “new age” mess of manifesting abundance and all that jazz. I’ll save that for another devotional.” Still, our words, in the eyes of God, do have the power of life or death. So…..think before you speak!!!

James 3:6 warns us that “the tongue is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.” It can build up or destroy in an instant. How often do we let careless words slip out—words of complaint, gossip, anger, or doubt—only to regret them later? David recognized that worship isn’t just about what we say to God in prayer. It is also about what we say to others and how we treat them. Our lips should be as holy as our prayers.

So here’s the challenge: What fragrance are you walking in with and leaving behind? Are your prayers rising like incense, or are your words spreading bitterness? Before we speak, let’s pause and ask: Does this glorify God? Does it bring life? Would I want this to be the fragrance I leave behind?

Today, let’s ask God not only to hear our prayers but to guard our lips. Let’s be intentional with both, so that our lives—our prayers and our words—become a pleasing offering to Him.

Cross-Reference Passages:

📖 Proverbs 18:21 – “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
📖 Ephesians 4:29 – “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.”
📖 Colossians 4:6 – “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt.”

Blessings to YOU,

Cassandra Lee

There’s JOY in the journey – nourishing body & soul…

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